Bondarenko triumphs after epic Edgbaston DFS Classic duel

A Bondarenko sister act lifted world No 69 Kateryna to the first tour title of her career at the DFS Classic on Sunday, though quite how helpful the interjections of her elder sibling Alona were is a moot point.

A Bondarenko sister act lifted world No 69 Kateryna to the first tour title of her career at the DFS Classic on Sunday, though quite how helpful the interjections of her elder sibling Alona were is a moot point.

While the 23-year-old, eliminated in the quarter finals on Friday, will swear her tireless courtside cheerleading and timely advice played a big part in lifting her younger sister to a nailbiting three set victory over Yanina Wickmayer, Kateryna revealed afterwards most of her verbal outbursts, of which there were quite a few during an epic three-hour encounter, were aimed at stifling the contribution from the sideline.

“She was cheering all the time for me but sometimes I yelled at her,” the 21-year-old said. “She was telling me what to do and I was saying to her ‘I am doing it.’ We’re OK, she got used to it.”

Nevertheless the presence of a more experienced head in her corner would have been a huge help to Bondarenko, who had never made it past a quarter final before this week, as she won the first set but lost the second and had to fight against an opponent seemingly consumed by a desire to secure her own maiden title.

Not even a serious-looking knee injury could douse Wickmayer’s fire. The 18-year-old pounded Bondarenko at times and with her massive serve and big forehand created a position from which she might have won.

But the injury, which required a lengthy medical time-out and heaving strapping, compromised the Belgian’s movement and it was perhaps only on that count, the two finalists could be separated. The scoreline 7-6 (9/7), 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) explains eloquently just how little there was between these two players.

Wickmayer is a star in the making. She has leaped over 300 ranking places in the last 12 months and as well as making the showpiece at Edgbaston Priory, also reached the last four at Surbiton.

She will be one to avoid at Wimbledon and seems destined to restore the standing to which the epithet ‘Belgium’s No 1’ has become used in recent years.

Her performance at the All England Club, however, will depend on how she recovers from the problem that ultimately undermined her here. Speaking afterwards with an ice pack strapped to her right knee, the tall right-hander, almost in tears, revealed her bitter disappointment at losing her first tour final.

“Did I think of retiring? No, I am not a quitter. The physio said it would not get any worse with tape so I fought on,” Wickmayer said. “I think I played well, even though my knee hurt – I just kept on trying for every point.

“It was not easy to serve because I could not push off any more, that is why I double faulted sometimes. The best thing I have is my legs, if I cannot use them it is hard,” the world No 85 said.

But ultimately the afternoon was about Bondarenko, whose poise at big points and fulminating backhand kept her in the match when she found her serve assailed by her big hitting opponent.

In both tie breaks it was Bondarenko’s backhand that proved most consistent that Wickmayer’s opposite wing. “Finally I have my own title.” said Bondarenko.

“I didn’t expect my first one to come on grass. In the important points against Yanina I was just trying to make as few mistakes as possible. At the changeover I was just closing my eyes and trying to concentrate.

“I was trying to move her around but she was still running very well, despite her injury. I’m hoping to do well at Wimbledon now, but I’m very focused on my next tournament in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.”

Which is also Wickmayer’s next event, though having flown out last night she will require attention to her knee before deciding whether to play her first match tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Cara Black and Liezel Huber, the best doubles pairing in the world, won their fourth Sony Ericsson WTA doubles title of the year by beating first-time pairing Severine Brémond and Virginia Ruano Pascual, 6-2, 6-1 in just 58 minutes.